18th Century town hall's £1.3m revamp complete

A major project to restore Whitby's Old Town Hall has been completed, the council has confirmed.

The £1.3m upgrade involved repairing the 18th Century building's clock tower and roof, as well as restoring its stonework and mortar.

Its first floor, which has been unoccupied for nearly a decade, has also been refurbished and modernised for events.

Traders in the market place, who were temporarily relocated to the Dock End area of the town during the works, were due to return in time for the August Bank Holiday weekend, according to North Yorkshire Council.

The project had secured the future of the Grade II* listed building, which revealed further damage once works got under way in 2025, a spokesperson for the authority said.

Deputy leader Mark Crane said: "The completion of this project is fantastic news for Whitby and everyone who cares about the town's rich heritage.

"We hope this can attract more visitors to the town, driving footfall and providing a boost for local businesses and the wider economy.

"Without this intervention, the condition of the building would have continued to deteriorate, putting an important part of the town's history at risk."

The project has been funded by money awarded to Whitby as part of the government's Towns Fund, as well as by the council.

An official opening event where the community could look around the newly renovated Old Town Hall was in the process of being organised, with a date to be confirmed in the coming weeks, the council spokesperson said.

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